Loras into win column, 31-23 over St. Thomas
Jon Denham, Sports Information Director
September 8, 2007

Loras 31
St. Thomas 23

The Loras College football team won their home opener on Saturday with a solid 31-23 win over the visiting University of St. Thomas. The Duhawks are celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the first football season on campus, and it took less than 100 seconds of game time to score their first touchdown.

The Duhawks kicked off to start the game and the Tommies ran just two offensive plays before turning the ball over. In what turned out to be a frighteningly similar start to their game from a week ago, the Tommies found themselves behind early via the turnover. Nate Gee stepped in front of a pass at the St. Thomas 30 yard line and returned the ball all the way to the two before  being taken down. A short time later Alex McGrew was giving the Duhawks the lead on his first touchdown of the season.

On the next Tommies possession it was All-American candidate Brock Hall pulling in an interception after just six more offensive plays by opponents from Minnesota. Matt McLaughlin would convert his first passing touchdown of 2007 five plays and two and a half minutes later when he connected with wide receiver Mike Hachey for a 34 yard strike.

After a quick three-and-out by St. Thomas the Duhawks marched 60 yards in three and a half minutes, converting twice on third down before Hachey made his way to the end zone for the second time, this time a 20 yard strike from Matt McLaughlin on a perfectly timed pattern against the grain.

The 21-0 lead was maintained for a short time before McLaughlin added a rushing touchdown to his afternoon and extended the lead to 28-0. The Tommies were able to put together their first sustained drive of the game and get on the board with a Jake Casey rushing touchdown before the half to make it 28-7 Duhawks at the break.

Loras tallied just three more points for the afternoon on a Taylor Buhmeyer 42 yard field goal (he also converted all four PAT's). The Tommies changed quarterbacks and completed more passes in the second half when sophomore Kris Kopp took the reigns. He ended the day 20-35 for 282 yards with a touchdown and one late interception.

Statistically for the Duhawks, it was very good day. Alex McGrew ended the day with 106 yards on the ground and one touchdown. Mike Hachey led the receiving core with five catches for 85 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Matt McLaughlin added 13 completions for 157 yards and three total touchdowns (two to Hachey and one rushing).

Defensively, the Duhawks defensive captains led the way. Brock Hall made eight total tackles, intercepted one pass, and also added a sack to his stat line. Andy Zeal made eight tackles to go along with Marty Mikaitis, Justin Sparrgrove, and Nick Syska, who each tallied five tackles.

The Duhawks will open the IIAC schedule next week in Mt. Vernon, Iowa when they take on the Cornell College Rams. Kickoff is 1:00 PM.